Extra pay for DH when traveling.

Posted by hkmama111 (232 days ago)

How much extra do you pay when traveling with DH? 5 day holiday? 2 week holiday?

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Posted by cara (232 days ago)

why would you pay extra?
they are already getting food & accomodations plus normal salary.

when/if i take my helper with me on a holiday, i might offer a little extra for her to buy souvenirs.

Posted by Hayzee (232 days ago)

In my opinion, nothing extra. Just their salary and food expenses.
When I take my DH on holidays with us, she eats well, stays in beautiful accommodations, gets to visit places she would never normally get the opportunity to see, doesn't have to do normal chores such as laundry, ironing, mopping floors etc, so I don't see why paying her extra is called for. That's only my opinion.

Posted by MumBee (232 days ago)

Doesnt it depend? US visa laws require helpers to be paid a minimum wage which is much higher than in HK.

Posted by cara (232 days ago)

well then, top up to whatever minimum wage would be, i guess...

but i find it strange if your normal place of residence is HK and you signed the contract in HK that you would be subject to US labour laws when you take her on vacation...
but then again, not much about the US makes a lot of sense to me.

Posted by hkkm (231 days ago)

Even though you signed the contract in HK, if you take your DH on holiday to the US and she is working (ie looking after the kids), then she is working in the US and thus subject to their labour laws. If she isn't working, then no problem.

Posted by ldsllvn (231 days ago)

no extra when we travel. we still pay her food allowance but she eats with us. also, if she works on her usual day off (say sun on hols) we would give her a day off when we are back in HK..

Posted by mrsl (231 days ago)

I think if you are away on a Sunday or bank holiday, she will need time in lieu, even if she does not work as she's not going to have the chance to relax with her friends. In reality though, most helpers would prefer extra pay than days in lieu (and yes, I know that this is illegal).

Posted by omaharrison (230 days ago)

LOL, so don't inform her of the US Labour Laws. You are going on a holiday, not moving there to live permanently.

Posted by ken132 (230 days ago)

hmmm.. interesting.

So if i take a biz trip to another country, then I should be subject to their labour laws? e.g. if I am on a 2 week trip to France, then I should not work more than the maximum stipulated hours? I better tell my boss about this then!

Posted by aloneforaday (230 days ago)

i think it is different from the normal business visa. US visas for helpers are condired au pair visas... but hey no one needs to know how much youre paying her

Posted by omaharrison (230 days ago)

Don't forget to tell her to submit her tax forms as well :p

Posted by spurs (230 days ago)

Australia is the same, the helper would be subject to the Australian minimum wage while she is working there. While you might be on holiday and not earning a wage while there, if you take someone there to work, then they are subject to the labour laws of that country. Which then means that they should not be on a visitors visa, but a work visa, which of course is why many people don't take their helpers to countries like the US and Oz where minimum wages and labour laws are so hefty (and so choose asian countries without these hefty laws instead, or choose to classify their helpers work as a friend doing some babysitting and not working ??).

Posted by hkkm (229 days ago)

Ken132, whether or not you are subject to the labour laws when you are on a business trip to another country depends on what the labour laws are for the job you are doing. I know that France has strict laws for hours of work, but do they apply to the type of job you do? I suspect that executives for banks and multinationals still work long hours, as they tend to anywhere.

Posted by joshmomm (228 days ago)

Maybe someone can help clear this up for me... (sorry, slightly off the original topic, but I'm honestly baffled).

"While you might be on holiday and not earning a wage while there, if you take someone there to work, then they are subject to the labour laws of that country."

So, if I don't take my helper with me to help me look after the kids and I take my mom instead, I'd have to pay her (my mom), too?! Whether the helper or my mom, both would eat what we eat, stay where we stay, and both would basically be our "extra pair of eyes" while we're on hols with the kids (so hubby and I could have a bit of couples' time or grab a quiet uninterrupted meal once in a while). Technically, then, my mom would be "working," wouldn't she, if we ask her to come along because we'd need help with the kids?

Posted by spurs (227 days ago)

I couldn't imagine that would possibly satisfy labour laws, no. thats what its really about, and i'm definitely no expert, but it depends on the labour laws of that country - classification of an employee etc etc.

Posted by hkkm (226 days ago)

joshmomm, there is a big difference between taking your mother on holiday and taking your helper.
In the first case, your mom is there at your invitation, ie she has the choice of whether or not to come with you and what she does while she is there.
In the second case, your helper is there because she is your employee. She has no choice of whether or not to come with you and if you tell her to mind the kids she has to do so. As such, the relationship is still that of employer-employee rather than a relative doing you a favour.
Think of the situation of someone who's just had a baby and has their mother come and stay, versus having a helper. The mother is there by choice, and the help she provides is by mutual agreement and because she wants to. The helper is there because she is employed to be there, the tasks she does are whatever the employer wants (within reason) and because she is being paid. Different rules and laws govern these situations. It's the same when you're on holiday.

Posted by Hayzee (225 days ago)

Spurs, you cannot take your Domestic Helper to Australia on a Work Visa, you have to take her on a Tourist Visa, it's the only way. And she can only stay 30 days.

Posted by sbm (223 days ago)

Although our helper doesn't have to work as hard on holiday as when at home, she does still work everyday of the holiday, so we would pay her extra (double) for Sundays and HK public holidays worked while away. We also pay for everything she needs while she is away (which means, strictly speaking, she gets to keep her food allowance, so makes a little extra there).

Even though she gets to stay in some great places I'd never see it as being a holiday for her - she's in a strange country with no friends/family around and is with her employer. Where's the holiday in that?

Posted by Moppet (223 days ago)

agree with sbm, as an ex nanny i can asure you being away from home with a family is no fun and can often be harder due to different demands.

Posted by cindy_jps (223 days ago)

yes if the holidays outside hk will also take her holidays let say sunday, then you should pay her daily rate ...salary/monthky wage= amount to be paid per day

Posted by Moppet (222 days ago)

people shouldn't expect there helper to go without a day off whether on holiday or not it's just not fair everyone needs a break.

Posted by cezzile (222 days ago)

my opinion is ...giving the helper an extra pay isn't really a big deal. Hey people, you can afford to go on vacation to US or somewhere else, why not give the helper a lil consideration? regardless of legallities or laws of the country you're goin' to...its really thats simple eh. If you are generous enough, well then give her ..if not..then don't.....as simple as abc eh.